Before he delivered the pitch that Tommy La Stella pounced on for the decisive home run in Friday’s loss, Cardinals lefty Brett Cecil believes he irritated catcher Yadier Molina by shaking off a call. Cecil had not thrown a changeup this season to a lefthanded batter, and with all the things that have gone awry for him, he thought maybe this would be right.
“At this point,” Cecil said, “what the (heck) that is the worst that can happen?”
The changeup was tagged for a fly ball for an out. The worst came one swing later when La Stella, yet another lefthanded batter, feasted on one of the several pitches Cecil has either had trouble trusting or executing — or both — this season.